Manet Seated, Turned to the Right

Manet Seated, Turned to the Right by Edgar Degas (French, 1834-1917) is a crucial early work in the artist's graphic output, created between 1864 and 1865. This print is an intimate portrait of his contemporary and friend, Édouard Manet (1832-1883), showcasing Degas’s intense study of figure composition and line. Executed using etching and drypoint on white wove paper, the medium allows for both the sharp, incisive etched lines defining the contours and the rich, velvety burr characteristic of drypoint, particularly evident in the shadows and volume of the seated figure. This early graphic exploration predates the height of the Impressionist movement and demonstrates Degas’s commitment to capturing psychological states through line.

During this period in the mid-1860s, Degas focused intensely on portraiture, often documenting fellow artists and family members in informal sittings. Unlike the posed, formal studio portraits common in France at the time, this study emphasizes immediacy and candid observation. Manet is shown turned slightly away from the viewer, deepening the sense of introspection and highlighting the spontaneous, sketch-like nature that drypoint affords. Degas’s technique here reveals his growing confidence in using the printing plate as a tool for quick draftsmanship rather than solely for polished reproduction.

The subject matter offers valuable insight into the interconnected Parisian art world, documenting the personal relationship between two of modern art's most pivotal figures. As one of the foundational pieces documenting the early modernist circle in France, the work holds significant historical value. This distinguished print is currently housed in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a definitive example of Degas’s early mastery of printmaking.